boon m11Bt be traced to his bounty. Wine is used here poetice.lly as one of the evidences of Dh-ine provision for man's needs. Wine maketh glad the hee.rt of man, oil maketh his face t.o shine, bread strengtheneth his heart. Heaven bestows in e.bundance gifts which men often accept with ingratitude or misuse to their own detriment, II. Gon's LOVE IB BETTER. Materie.l possessions, temporal enjoyments, the pleasures of sense, are contrasted. with what enriches, purifies, aud rejoices the spirit. 'l'o the spiritual man the favour of Heaven yields more true joy than he experiences in the time when corn and wine increase. 1. This follows from the very nature of man, who is a being made originally in the Divine image, endowed with an immortal nature. Such a being cannot find satisfaction in any lower source of happiness. 2. It follows especially from the fact of man's sin and sRlvation. As a dependent being, ma.u is a recipient of Divine bounty; but, as a being who has departed from God, and has been restored by forgiving mercy to favour aud fellowship, he is especially in need of constant revelations of Divine love. And as Christians we gratefully recognize that, in bestowing upon us his own Son, God bas given uuto us that love which is better than wine. 3. In partaking of Divine love we are in no danger of excess. It had been better for many a. professing Christian had God's providence withheld the gifts which have by the abuse of worldliness been prized above the Giver himself. Not wine only, but the wealth and luxuries of life generally, have too often been the occasion of forgetting and departing from God. But Divine love is a draught of which none can drink in excess. 4. The love of God is a la.sting blessing, a perennial joy. '!'he gifts of Divine bounty perish, for they are of the earth. The love of God is imperishable as God himself.-T. Ver. 3.-The fragrant name. The sense of smell furnishes much of the imagery of this poetical book. Perfumes not only gratify the smell, they awaken the emotions, and have a remarkable power of reviving, by association, bygone scenes and far- distant friends and companions, in whose society the fragrant wild flowers or blooms of the garden have been enjoyed. Perfumed unguents were in the East employed for anointing the body, for health and comfort. Their use was associated with hospitable xeception and entertainment. The Name of our Saviour is as the unguents poured upon his form, diffusing sweet fragrance abroad. L THE NAME OF CHRIST IS FRAGRANT TO THE SPIRITUAL SENSE OF HIS PEOPLE. In fact, the Christ is "the Anointed," who, by his appointment and devotion, is marked out as the beloved Son of God, and the honoured Saviour of the world. The perfume of Divine grace, treasured up from eternity, was poured forth in abnndance upon the Word when he "became flesh, and dwelt among us." II. THE NA.li!E OF CHRIST BAS A 0OSTLY, PRECIOUS FBAGBAN0E. It is well known that large sums of money were lavished on the scented unguents stored in vessel11, bottles, and vases of alabaster and other expensive materials. The perfumes used were brought in many cases from distant lands; they were distilled from rare and beautiful flowers ; they were purchased by the wealthy and used by the luxurious. Ill. THE NAME OF CHRIST POSSESSES A DELIGHTFUL AND BEFRE8BING FBAGBAN0E. .AI; the mere mention of the king's name was welcome to the bride and to her companions, so is the Name of our Saviour, when pronounced in the hearing of his friends, the occasion of delight. The Name of Jesus is music to the ear, ar;id is as "ointment poured forth." It dispels the la.ssitude, the discouragement, the despondency, which are sometimes apt to steal into the soul of the disciple during the Master's bodily and temporary absence. It is a" Name above every name." "Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart." IV. THE NAME OF JESUS DIFFUSES A FAR-BEACHING FRAGRANCE. The penetrating power of odours is well known. Poets tell of the " spicy breezes" that " blow soft o'er Ceylon's isle;" how "filled with balm the gale sighs on, though the flowers are sunk in death." Thus the precious Name of Christ sheds its sweetness far and wide, bringing life, hope, and salvation to those in remotest lands. The Plant of Renown which was bruised upon the soil of Palestine has given forth perfume of blessing which has reached the uttermost ends of the earth, reviving those ready to perish with its refreshing and reinvigorating power. V. THE N AldE OF CHRIST DIFFUSES A LASTING AND PERMANENT FBAGUANCE. It is known that some perfumes, such as musk, will continue to pour forth their aw_eetness OH, I, 1-17,] TIIE SONG OF SOLOMON. 35
day aft~r do.y and year nfter ye_ar,. dilf;1sing effinvia unceasingly, and yet snITering no porcept1ble loss of bulk, no d1mmut10n of power to give forth their special odour. Similarly is it with the power of Christ to bless mankind. Generation after generation has found healing, life, o.nd blessing in the gospel; yet is its freshness undimmed and its power undiminished. And to-day more are rejoiciocr in the ever-fracrrant Name than at o.ny former time. Nor shall that Name ev;r lose its sweetness or its power.-T,